Investigators are poring over prominent political consultant Chad Alexander’s emails and text messages looking for evidence of public corruption, campaign contribution violations and illegal collusion with political candidates.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater confirmed Thursday a criminal investigation is underway.

Prater’s chief investigator in July told a judge there is “direct evidence” in the text messages of possible collusion involving the campaign of state schools superintendent candidate Joy Hofmeister.

The records indicate Hofmeister wanted Alexander to use a “super PAC” to attack the incumbent schools superintendent, Janet Barresi, the investigator wrote in a search warrant affidavit.

A candidate and such groups are supposed to act independently.

“I have no knowledge of any wrongdoing,” Hofmeister said Thursday night. “I have never colluded nor ever authorized anyone on my campaign to interact with any independent expenditure on my behalf. I stand ready to cooperate and help in any way if asked.”

Hofmeister, a Tulsa Republican, beat Barresi in the June 24 primary election.

“Without question, this began as a political stunt by my opponent in an attempt to distract voters from her record,” Hofmeister said. “The voters saw through this overwhelmingly. I’m going to continue to stay focused on our campaign and continue advocating for the best education for our Oklahoma schoolchildren.”

Police seized Alexander’s two cellphones and a laptop computer after he was arrested during a drug stop in May.

Alexander, 41, of Choctaw, is charged with two felony counts of drug possession and a misdemeanor count of obstructing a police officer in the performance of his official duty. He has pleaded not guilty.

Alexander is accused in the felony counts of illegally possessing cocaine and illegally possessing prescription pain pills. He is accused in the misdemeanor count of telling an Oklahoma City police officer he was a Cleveland County assistant district attorney.

Prater’s chief investigator, Gary Eastridge, got permission from the judge in July to review the cellphone text messages and the laptop records for evidence of political wrongdoing.

He told the judge he was specifically looking for evidence showing collusion between Alexander and political consultant Fount Holland and Holland’s firm, A.H. Strategies.

The search warrants records were filed Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court.

Those records state there are thousands of text messages, emails and other communications currently being forensically analyzed.

Eastridge told the judge in July that multiple people contacted the district attorney’s office after Alexander’s drug arrest about his alleged political wrongdoing.

“These persons are all involved in political, campaign, lobbying and/or fundraising activities but do not wish to be named for fear of political and/or financial reprisal by Alexander and those connected to him,” Eastridge wrote.

“All are gainfully employed, upstanding citizens with no criminal record. These persons all state that Alexander operates the ‘Oklahomans for a Conservative Future’ Super PAC, and at the same time he is or was actively involved with the campaigns of individual candidates being represented by Fount Holland and A.H. Strategies.”

Prater said Thursday he has no idea when the investigation will be completed.

“We have a lot of information to look at and a lot of witnesses to speak to who have indicated their willingness to cooperate,” the prosecutor said.

Prater in June said he was involved in fact-finding into complaints involving Alexander and the campaigns of Hofmeister and T.W. Shannon.

Shannon, a former state House speaker, lost in the Republican primary in his bid for the U.S. Senate. His campaign officials said in June, “There has been absolutely no coordination between our campaign and any of the groups conducting independent expenditures. Any allegation to the contrary is completely false and without merit.”

Alexander helped organize Oklahomans for a Conservative Future but resigned his duties with the group after his May 13 arrest.

Prater began looking specifically at Hofmeister’s campaign because of emails found by Barresi’s campaign.

In one email turned over to the prosecutor, Hofmeister wrote in April 22, 2013, about planned meetings with political consultants in Oklahoma City.

“I am meeting this morning in OKC with Fount Holland (AH Strategies) at 11 a.m. and Chad Alexander (probably better fit for the independent campaign) at 1 p.m.,” she wrote.

Hofmeister has said she met with Alexander only to determine if she wanted him to run her campaign. She hired Holland and A.H. Strategies instead.

Among the text messages uncovered by investigators are ones between Holland and Alexander on April 24, 2013.

In one text, Holland asks if University of Oklahoma President David Boren will be upset if Alexander does an independent expenditure against Barresi.

Alexander replies: “I will use a different 527.”

The district attorney’s investigator alleged in the search warrant affidavit that Alexander intended to use a different 527 organization to keep Boren from learning of his work against Barresi.

“This is particularly relevant given Alexander’s work as a lobbyist for the University of Oklahoma and his direct ties and communications with President Boren in that capacity,” the investigator wrote.

Holland on Thursday night denied wrongdoing.

“There was absolutely and unequivocally no coordination,” he said.

“It is not unusual or illegal or even unethical to discuss whether a colleague is involved or plans to be involved in an independent expenditure. In fact, it is very necessary to know who may or may not be involved where, so you can ensure that you do avoid discussions you shouldn’t be having,” he said.

Holland pointed out that Alexander was never hired by any group to do an independent expenditure in the schools superintendent race.

“It is the coordination of expenditures that is illegal and needs to be avoided, not discussions relating to who is involved in which campaigns. That is an important distinction,” Holland said.

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